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Thursday, April 26, 2012
Photos: Photography Contest Winners -- Part 2
10:06 PM |
Dana Kaplan,
Stresa Sights |
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Here's the next collection of photos from the FotograFIAMO contest. These six were taken by three different photographers, but all have a common theme of having a view of the lake from a vantage point high in the mountains. And every one of these vantage points is part of a well-established and easily hiked trail, making these photos hopefully an inspiration to take your camera and do some trekking. (continue for photos ....)
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Restaurants: Michelin Restaurants In And Near Stresa
10:32 PM |
Dana Kaplan,
Stresa Sights |
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The outdoor garden at ristorante Piemontese in Stresa.
People sometimes write and ask me which are the best restaurants in Stresa. Of course I cannot answer this; it is completely a matter of personal taste, and in addition, even after all this time, I have not eaten in even a good percentage of them. But for those who would like some sort of rating system by which to guide their restaurant choices, we can look to the highly respected Michelin star system. With its anonymous reviewers and strict criteria, Michelin starred restaurants are few, far between, and worth seeking out. In all of Italy, in the 2011 guide, there were 233 Michelin restaurants; by comparison France had 455, Spain and Portugal combined had 128. Searching around Stresa I was surprised (and pleased!) to discover that within a 20 mile radius from the center of Stresa there are 7 starred Michelin restaurants. In addition, just in Stresa, there are 14 restaurants inside of Michelin recommended hotels and 4 restaurants in Stresa with Michelin awarded 'forks' for charm, ambience and food. Following I list these restaurants, with a link to their Michelin review as well as a link to their own website, if they have one. (continue for the list ... )
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restaurants
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Photos: Photography Contest Winners From FotografiAMO Neveazzurra
9:41 PM |
Dana Kaplan,
Stresa Sights |
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This is a montage of some of the photographs received in response to the contest.
FotografiAMO Neveazzurra!!! That was the name of the photography contest initiated by the Distretto Turistico dei Laghi in late 2011. Within a very short time after the announcement the office was inundated with over 2000 photo entries, submitted by dozens of amateur photographers, of the lake region covered by the Distretto office. Somehow, they managed to select 51 finalists from this bounty, and then 10 winning photographs from those. The choice must have been difficult -- talk about an overabundance of riches!
My friend Filippo at the Distretto office has been so kind to send me over 30 of the finalist and winning images. The ones he sent me, with a few exceptions, focus on the Stresa, Borromeo Gulf, and Mt. Mottarone area. I think I'll post them in a few groups; let's spread out this good thing! (continue for photos!)
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photo gallery,
Piemonte
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
How To Travel From Linate Airport To Stresa
2:30 PM |
Dana Kaplan,
Stresa Sights |
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Linate Aeroporto is just outside of the city of Milano. To reach Stresa, north of Milano, the best way may be to travel into the city to the train station.
Unlike from Malpensa, there is no Alibus shuttle to take one directly to Stresa from Linate International Airport. Therefore, if you arriving at Linate and coming to Stresa, there are a couple of options. From Linate one way to reach Stresa is by taking the shuttle bus that runs between Linate and Malpensa. It drops passengers at Terminal 2 at Malpensa, from which they can take the Alibus shuttle to Stresa.
Here is the Malpensa/Linate shuttle link: www.malpensashuttle.it
Another option is to get to Milano Centrale station. Linate Airport is very close to Centrale, only 9km, and Linate runs a shuttle to Centrale for 5 euro. Once at Centrale one can take the train to Stresa. Even a taxi from Linate to Centrale should not cost much, perhaps 15 or 20 euro. If you are more than one person this becomes an economical way to reach Centrale.
Here is the Trenilalia link to search trains to Stresa from Centrale: www.trenitalia.com
The only way to reach Stresa directly from Linate could be with a private taxi. This is costly, about 200 euro. Regarding the options mentioned above, please do keep in mind that all of the above information assumes daytime travel. Late in the night the trains run seldom, if at all, and the shuttles not at all.
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transportation
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tre Domande: Three Questions With Massimo Colla of Al Buscion Wine Bar
11:15 AM |
Dana Kaplan,
Stresa Sights |
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Where is one of the places I send everyone for aperitivo when they are here? Enoteca al Buscion. And one of the best reasons to go to Buscion? It's owner, Massimo.
Ciao Massimo! Anyone who has read this blog has also heard me mention Massimo many times. Now it's time to hear from Massimo himself. As another season gets underway here in Stresa, Massimo took the time to answer these interview questions for us:
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who is Massimo, and why did you decide to open your bar, Al Buscion?
I am 35 years old, and I have a grand passion for wines. I left Italy 15 years ago for London, where I worked in a restaurant that had a very large selection of wines, and therefore, I started to dream of one day opening an enoteca. Seven years ago my dream was realized, thanks to my family, when they decided to take over a wine bar in Stresa and they gave it the name al Buscion.
2. Who are your customers? And what is special about Buscion?
This enoteca is very special, because it is a family-run company, and because we look to establish with our clients a relationship of friendship, making our customers feel like they are at home!! Our clients are a mix of people who live here, those who have vacation homes here in Stresa, and tourists from every part of the world. .... (continued)
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interviews
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